‘If it wasn’t for the dogs, we would be dead’: Pets alert owners to overnight fire in western P.E.I.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOS
MONTROSE, P.E.I. — Had been it not for his or her canines waking them up in the course of the night time, Lora and William Stewart doubt they might nonetheless be alive.
“If it wasn’t for the canines, we might be lifeless,” mentioned Lora.
Whereas a fireplace burned via their Montrose dwelling in a single day on March 9, the 2 loyal canines – Posey and Prince – jumped into mattress, waking William.
Figuring they simply needed exterior, William’s intuition was to disregard them; thankfully, the canines endured, and William received up.
“I received dressed and I simply received exterior the bed room doorways and that’s when the smoke detectors went off,” he mentioned.
It was 3:45 a.m. For the subsequent 11 hours, the couple watched as their dwelling was consumed by flames and native fireplace departments fought to maintain the destruction contained.
The Alberton, West Level, O’Leary, Tignish and Miminegash fireplace departments all attended the scene.
By the point the vehicles left at 3 p.m., the place they known as dwelling had been lowered to a wreck.
“The firemen had been simply unbelievable, it was superb,” mentioned a teary-eyed Lora. “We will’t thank them sufficient.”
As of 4 p.m. on March 9, the reason for the hearth was nonetheless beneath investigation.
For the final 12 months, the Stewarts have operated Montrose Petting Farm on their property. They’ve round 80 animals, from canines and cats to goats and horses.
Lora can not bear in mind how she felt, speeding to get out of the home and watching the hearth rage via the constructing. She does recall, although, that the pets had been her prime precedence – getting the canines exterior and operating again for the cats.
Though their dwelling and virtually every little thing they owned are gone, all Lora can take into consideration is how lucky she feels that each one their animals escaped unscathed.
The wind, mentioned Lora, was blowing away from their barn.
“I’d have simply gone loopy if one thing occurred to them,” she mentioned. “I really like my animals greater than something.”
Each Lora and William are shaken following the hearth. Nonetheless, they refuse to let the chaos put their lives on pause and are conserving their petting farm open.
“The animals nonetheless want consideration,” mentioned William. “They’re all sooky infants.”
Within the aftermath, folks from the group have dropped by to supply them garments and different necessities to assist in their time of want.
Some, mentioned Lora, even walked to the home with provides whereas firefighters had the highway blocked off.
A neighbour has even supplied up area of their home to the couple for so long as they want it. The couple had insurance coverage, however will probably be a protracted highway to getting again on their toes.
“It’s simply been overwhelming,” mentioned Lora, who mentioned the assist was sudden. “We respect every little thing that everyone has donated and helped us out with.”
Kristin Gardiner is a reporter with the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island. She will be reached by electronic mail at [email protected] and adopted on Twitter @KristinGardiner.
